President unveils 1823 Monument – hopes it will motivate Guyanese to partner for peace, progress, and prosperity

President Donald Ramotar this evening unveiled the 1823 monument located opposite the Guyana Defence Force’s Headquarters on the Sea Wall road, in commemoration of the 190th anniversary of the 1823 slave revolt, and as he did so, he expressed the hope that it will be a symbol of partnership for Guyanese.

President Donald Ramotar in discussion with the 1823 Monument designer, sculptor Ivor Thom while Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Alfred King look on

“May this monument inspire all Guyanese to join hands in partnership for peace, progress, and prosperity,” President said.

He said that in unveiling this monument, Guyanese are formalising the honour that they have kept, and as a united people, acknowledging the contribution of their ancestors’ quest for justice, dignity and liberty.

President Donald Ramotar cutting the ribbon to the 1823 monument at Sea Wall Road

This historic slave revolt took place on Plantation Success, East Coast of Demerara on August 18, 1823 and quickly spread to other estates. It was led by freedom fighters such as Quamina, Parris, Hamilton, Achilles and many others, who struck a mighty blow against the system of plantation slavery.

It was the second of only two major slave revolts in Guyana’s history, occurring 60 years after that of 1763 in Berbice, then a Dutch colony.

A section of the audience at the unveiling of the 1823 monument

President Ramotar in his address said that the monument is a dedication to Guyana’s historical past and the national recognition of the acts of valour by enslaved ancestors, who made the supreme sacrifice to secure freedom for themselves and their descendants.

“If 1763 put a doubt in the minds of the colonisers that slaves were willing to end slavery, then 1823 put the question beyond doubt. History suggests that this revolt hastened the decision for emancipation…it intensified and aggravated the anti-slavery pressures in England,” the Head of State recalled.

President Donald Ramotar, with Ministers of the Government and sculptor Ivor Thom (in brown dashiki) in the foreground of the 1823 monument

He said that after 190 years, Guyanese have to continue to struggle to make this position absolutely irreversible. He noted that Guyana is a poor, developing country, operating in an international environment that is generally not in the favour of such countries.

“There are still many invisible chains that try to exploit us and this is where we must use the experiences of our ancestors to work with others in similar circumstances, to try to improve conditions for development and end the inequality that exists so much in the world,” the President exhorted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said that said that history, if left forgotten, will rob citizens of a significant part of the legacy of the struggle that their ancestors left.

The Government of Guyana, in 2011 undertook several initiatives in commemoration of the United Nations (UN) designated International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD), among them was the construction of the 1823 monument.

The 1823 monument

In April 2011, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport launched a national competition for the design of the monument and five designs were received. Renowned sculptor, Ivor Thom’s design was adjudged the best by an esteemed technical panel.

Minister Anthony said that traditionally Guyana’s capacity to construct a bronze sculpture has been very limited; however, as a result of this project, the Burrowes School of Arts is now equipped with the skills and equipment to make monuments of this type.

A site select committee was formed under the chairmanship of Assistant Director of Culture, Colonel Linden Ross and several advertisements were placed in the local newspapers for proposals of possible sites for this monument, but no response was forthcoming.

Because of the history of this uprising, the committee then identified 10 villages along the East Coast of Demerara including: Bachelor’s Adventure, Chateau Margot, Le Ressouvenir, Elisabeth Hall, Melanie, Cove and John, Nabaclis, Doch Four, Bee Hive and Good Hope.

Additionally, a number of places were identified in Georgetown, including: Parade Ground, Victoria Court of Law, National Park, and the Sea Wall road site. After reviewing all of the sites, the committee decided on the latter, which was endorsed by the Ministry.

Minister Anthony explained that when works started at the site, requests were then received from individuals that the site should be changed. However, that belated request could not have been accommodated because the works on the site were far advanced.

“We regret the controversies that erupted around the site; nevertheless, I think it’s time we focus on the purpose for which the monument was built. That is to remember the resilience and resistance of our ancestors in the 1823 uprising,” he said.

Artist and Sculptor, Ivor Thom who hails from Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara, said that based on the historical facts the monument’s design.

As such, there is the cross, which is one of the most recognised religious symbols, and chains which symbolize bondage. The monument also has three figures: one of a male standing upright with his legs apart in defiance, a female with a cutlass and folded fist signifying power, and another male with a musket, holding his hand up to beckon others to join him.

Thom started working on the monument in November 2011 and completed it in July 2012; however, he had to wait for the completion of the base at the Sea Wall road site. He thanked students of the Sophia and Kuru Kuru Training Centers, particularly those from the welding class, who assisted him in the construction of the bronze monument.

The 1823 monument will be handed over to the National Trust of Guyana shortly.

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